Jamie Lee Curtis Shares Her Confusion Over the ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ Script

Jamie Lee Curtis – Everything, Everywhere, All At Once.
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Frederic J. BROWN / AFP via Getty; Allyson Riggs

Jamie Lee Curtis Reflects on Her Oscar-Winning Role in Everything Everywhere All at Once

In a recent interview, Jamie Lee Curtis revealed that she initially struggled to comprehend the script for her Academy Award-winning performance in the 2022 film Everything Everywhere All at Once. "Not one second of it," she stated during her appearance on CBS News’ 60 Minutes when asked about her first reading of the script.

Despite her confusion over the film’s complex plot, Curtis found clarity in her portrayal of Deirdre Beaubeirdre, an IRS auditor. "We all know Dierdre. She’s a woman who’s not loved," said Curtis. "She’s a woman who uses her power in her job to control people because she has no love in her life."

The narrative follows a Chinese-American laundromat owner who discovers alternate universe versions of herself while being audited by the IRS. This intricate storyline posed significant challenges for Curtis initially. "Of course not," she remarked when discussing whether she understood the film’s plot at the outset. "Did I understand that script? No."

Curtis’s performance not only secured her an Oscar but also recognized her with a BAFTA and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress. Upon receiving the Academy Award, she was visibly stunned, mouthing the words "shut up" in disbelief. Reflecting on that moment, she commented, "Totally, because that wasn’t supposed to happen."

During the interview, Curtis—67 years old—also touched on her family legacy as the daughter of acclaimed actors Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, both of whom were nominated for Academy Awards but did not win. "I think about surpassing my parents, which I have, emotionally. I’ve surpassed my parents with sobriety," she shared. She expressed that her late mother’s career was constrained by industry expectations, contrasting it with her own path. "I have freedom," she concluded.

Jamie Lee Curtis and Michelle Yeoh in ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’.
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